1 week ago
Last Updated: April 26, 2024, 21:08 IST
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
Students and others demonstrate at a protest encampment at University Yard in support of Palestinians in Gaza in Washington, U.S., April 25, 2024. (Reuters)
The protests, which began when students took over Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus lawn last week, have mushroomed nationwide
In the wake of radical anti-Israel protests sweeping through college campuses nationwide, US billionaire investor George Soros and affiliated groups have come under the scanner for their alleged role in funding and organising these pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The protests, which started at Columbia University’s campus last week, have spread to prominent institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Berkeley, with hundreds arrested nationwide. According to the New York Post, these protests have been coordinated by branches of the Soros-funded Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), sparking clashes with law enforcement at some campuses.
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Central to these protests are individuals identified as “fellows” of the Soros-funded US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), according to the US newspaper. These paid activists are reportedly incentivised to organise campaigns led by Palestinian groups, receiving financial support ranging from $2,880 to $7,800 per fellow.
The report said the funding for these protests has allegedly been channeled through a network of nonprofits, including Soros’ Open Society Foundations and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. These contributions have been vital in sustaining protest activities, such as the tent city erected at Columbia University, where students received amenities like delivery pizza and rotisserie chickens. An analysis conducted by The Post revealed the intricate financial connections between Soros-affiliated groups and protest organisers.
Soros’ contributions to organisations like the Westchester People’s Action Coalition Foundation (WESPAC) have fueled anti-Israel sentiments, according to the report. WESPAC, which was initially established to advocate for civil rights, now allocates funds to groups like Within Our Lifetime, founded by outspoken anti-Israel activist Nerdeen Kiswani. Despite numerous inquiries, none of the involved groups have responded to requests for comment by The Post.
India Reacts
As protests continue to rock campuses across the US, India underlined on Thursday the need to balance freedom of expression and public safety. Addressing a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad.”
This comes as over 100 people were arrested Wednesday at two universities in California and Texas after protests erupted across US campuses this week.”We have seen reports on the matter and have been following related events. In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order,” Jaiswal said in response to a question posed during the press briefing.
“Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad,” he added. Demonstrations flared at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Los Angeles campus, where 93 people were arrested for trespassing, and at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin, where 34 were arrested, according to authorities.
